Help Take a Bite Out of Extinction!

Belize, Latin Amer

September 2nd, Vincent Rose, Crocodile Behavioral Expert, Co- Founder of Belize’s American Crocodile Education Sanctuary (ACES), and a member of Cape Coral Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 9-10, captured and relocated a critically endangered six foot Siamese crocodile named “Jerry” in the village of Baan Tuek, Sukhothai, North Thailand. Siamese crocodiles are listed by IUCN as critically endangered., and field surveys estimate that there are less than 250 wild, adult, Siamese crocodiles in our World today.

Founded in 2006 and operating under the authority of the Belize Forest Department (BFD), Government of Belize, ACES is a non-profit organization, committed to the conservation of critical wetland habitats and protected species, specifically Crocodilians, via scientific research and education to preserve wildlife for future generations.

Given as a gift to a village in Sukhothai, Thailand over 5 years ago, Jerry has been housed in a small concrete “cell” with very little fresh water. Jerry's owners approached Boon Lott's Elephant Sanctuary - BLES, seeking a new home for their pet. That's when long-term BLES volunteer, David Owen, began fundraising for Jerry's transition to the sanctuary. David, born in Ontario, Canada, knew that he must find Jerry a healthier home. Worldwide, when animals like Jerry are relocated from poor living conditions they typically end up at breeding facilities or animal shows. David and BLES Founder, Katherine Connor, decided that the only way to ensure he wasn't sent to a breeding centre, research facility, or crocodile tourist attraction was to build an enclosure at Boon Lott’s Elephant Sanctuary (BLES) where Jerry could live out the rest of his life in peace. Although BLES is an elephant rescue and rehabilitation facility, currently caring for 17 rescued elephants on 750 acres of land, the sanctuary has never turned its back on an animal of any species. The santuary is home to 25 dogs, 40 cats, 10 tortoises, 3 wild boar, 2 macaque monkeys, 2 cows, and soon, one crocodile.
“Every life is important and every life is worth fighting for.” ~ David Owen
With grand new habitat has been completed at BLES thanks to all of Jerry’s donors! David, having reached out internationally to crocodilian conservationists all over the World since last April, has request Vince Rose of ACES, Belize, to lead Jerry’s relocation to his new home to ensure the safety of Jerry and the team moving him. Jerry’s big move is scheduled for Sept. 2nd. Vince will safely capture Jerry in his tiny concrete prison, place him in the shade to collect scientific data and take Jerry’s measurements, then sex Jerry to be sure he is a he, and finally, with the help of the community, transport him to his new home at BLES. Everyone involved, including the children who decorated Jerry’s new home for him, are all very excited to see Jerry to be in such a pristine habitat with sufficient fresh water so that he can freely swim about.

David has been blogging Jerry's journey to sanctuary, which you can follow here:

Having acquired over fifteen years of experience and thousands of live, safe, crocodilian captures, Vince Rose is an expert at safely handling various species and sizes of crocodilians, including the capture of the 12 foot Morelet's crocodile that unfortunately killed a local Belizean fisherman in 2014. Additionally, Vince has extensive knowledge in crocodilian diseases and proper husbandry; has hundreds of hours educating local Belizean government authorities on everything from safe handling techniques, scientific data collection, tagging, and sexing; and has educated the general public, including school children, on how to safely coexist with these magnificent apex predators.
Working hand in hand with the BFD, ACES has rescued hundreds of American and Morelet’s crocodiles from inhumane and illegal captivity, polluted environmental conditions, poachers, and imminent death at the hands of man due to their problematic status. Cherie Chenot-Rose, Vince’s wife and Co-Founder of ACES states, “It’s not just saving crocodiles that is important to us; for even more important is the fact that what we do keeps people safe and potentially saves human lives by removing large problematic crocodiles from under homes and local swimming holes where the likelihood for croc-human conflicts is the highest.” ACES responds to crocodile calls country-wide in Belize and relocates nuisance crocs while placing problematic crocs, those that are more aggressive and have attacked pets or keep returning to a populated area, into captivity at ACES Crocodile Eco-Sanctuary now located at the Rainforest Adventure Zone in Sandhill, Belize. Here the crocodiles can reside in in peace in natural and yet secured habitats.

ACES’s is currently expanding their operations to Southwest Florida, USA. ACES aims to hold educational presentations to raise awareness on how to safely coexist with apex predators, like Crocodilians.“It is imperative that we learn to coexist because apex predators play very important roles in keeping our environments healthy and in balance." (David Owen, left, and Vince)

On a recent CSI: Belize Croc Excursion we had a live rescue. Vince caught a croc which reportedly ate bait off a fishing line. Sure enough the hook was still in the croc's mouth. Vince removed the hook and the guests named the little croc "Lucky Lief." He was relocated, microchipped, and re-released. What a great night! Photos by Kendra Larson and Joy Stevens. Thank you all for your trip truly rescued this American crocodile. For more pictures go to ACES's Photos.

Be sure to check out ACES latest photos of the rescue and relocation of a crocodile that ate a pet. The kids of DFC stayed up till past midnight with us to assist with data collection and for a chance to see and learn about these magnificant animals. Click Here for all the photos!

This morning we had 16 baby crocs hatch in our bathtub. These crocs were rescued from nests raided by raccoons at the sewage plant. First, due to the fact of the contaminated waters that their parents are forced to live in, due to the pressures of development, at the sewage plant, they are not very healthy. Also, statistics prove the less than 1% of hatchling crocs survive to reach sexual maturity. While people may think there is an abundance of crocs on the island, this is not so. Their numbers are steadily decreasing. We all know the reasons. Anyways, it will take a whole year before we can even determine if any of the these newly hatched crocs in captivity will even have a chance of survival due to their condition. We will get opposition for trying to save these babies. Even the best intentions get opposition. The thing is as we take large crocs out of the environment and into captivity because they are problematic, we need to replace them with smaller ones to keep the population self sustainable and healthy. As apex predators the crocs keep even the fish populations, such as snapper, healthy by feeding on the sick and weak. They play a vital roll in keeping the ecosystem in balance.

On March 9, 2012, on a routine croc tag and release, this croc charged at us out of the water. We found upon capture that it had been shot in the head and hind leg. It was also lacking teeth and starving.
We removed the bullet from just behind its ear, cleaned the wound of infection, and applied topical antibiotic. We then examined the gunshot wounds to the hind leg. There appeared to be two to three through and through wounds. We cleaned the wounds and removed debris. We then applied antibiotics. The croc was fed chicken with vitamins that night. Over the next month the croc was given live fish, shrimp, crab and a raccoon.

On April 17, 2012, the croc was captured for examination. The head wound was completely healed. The leg wounds were almost completely healed (90%). No signs of infection. The croc had gained about 50 pounds. It was decided the croc was to be re-released up north away from people. GPS was taken of the release site. The 10 foot 5 inch, male, American crocodile was microchipped #OAO1541116.

April 24, 2012, ACES, Volunteers, "Island Films," and "The San Pedro Sun" rescued one of the trapped crocodiles. The complete rescue took 7 hours. The crocodile is feeding and although severely emaciated, we are hopeful of its recovery. If at any time it appears the animal is not getting better, ACES will seek permission for humane euthanasia from the appropriate authorities. Click Here for photos: courtesy of "The San Pedro Sun."

Just two nights ago we were conducting a routine crocodile capture, tag, and release for our ongoing American crocodile, Crocodylus acutus, population survey. The croc we captured had been shot in the head and hind leg, but alive. We were able to remove the bullet from the head but not sure if any remain in the leg. There are exit wounds so we know that some went through and through.

This large 10 foot 8 inch, male, crocodile is now in a small holding facility. We cleaned all the woulds and treated with antibiotics as best we could. This croc came to us so quickly out of the water for bait that we had to chase it off to set the snare. This indicates it was being fed by humans and hence a very dangerous and large apex predator not afraid of humans. Additionally, it is now obviously an easy target for poachers. This croc will need care for at least a month in the small habitat but can not, nor should not, be re-released into the wild. It will be killed for sure. Currently we do not have any room at out natural habitat sanctuary. We are in need of funding to build it a suitable enclosure.

Additionally, we have a 9 foot male American crocodile in recovery. It is toothless from malnutrition and possibly a metabolic disease. It is recovering quickly in our care, but again we do not have a suitable habitat for it once it is fully recovered. We would like to eventually re-release this croc however, due to it lacking teeth we need to be sure it can feed on its own. In the event we do re-release it some day the habitat would then be available for any other croc in need.

With funding of $10,000USD we will build two 75' x 80' habitats for these crocs. Both habitats would also be able to house two large rescued females along with these males. And the need here is great. PLEASE consider granting ACES some funding to humanely care for these crocs. We are verified by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries and visitors are limited and only welcome for educational purposes.

Also, I hope you received my email about ACES being filmed by UK's Wild Productions for Discovery Channel's Animal Planet series "Wildlife SOS." It should air this Sept.

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